Title

Author

Term of Award

Degree Name

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Department

Department of Health and Kinesiology

Committee Chair

Thomas Buckley

Committee Member 1

Jody Langdon

Committee Member 2

Trey Burdette

Committee Member 3

Trey Burdette

Abstract

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there are 1.6-3.8 million sports related traumatic brain injuries in the United States annually which occur in both mainstream and extreme sports. Many of these concussions have been associated with collisional sports, like football, but high risk extreme sports, like motocross, also have many opportunities for collisions to occur. Unlike traditional varsity sports motocross races, especially at the amateur level, do not require more than advanced life support at a race in case of emergency situation leaving the amateur rider to recognize and decide on concussion management. Purpose of this study is to assess concussion knowledge amongst motocross riders and to determine differences in knowledge based in demographic factors. Motocross riders were able to access an internet based questionnaire for two months. The respondents (N=782 age=30.6±11.9 male=85.0%) represented amateur motocross riders who currently participate in racing. The questionnaire was distributed online (host site qualtircs.com), based upon concussion literature, with the web link posted on Facebook, Twitter, and emailed to American Motorcycle Association districts and motocross tracks across America. Access to the questionnaire began on December 22nd, 2012 and stayed open for two months closing on February 24th, 2013. The mean overall score for participants on concussion knowledge score was 14.29±2.71 out of 20, and 6.76±1.35 out of 8 on recognition of correct sign and symptoms of concussion. Participants succumbed to several misconceptions; including the belief that a rider should be kept awake if suffering from a concussion was believer by 719/782 (91.9) of participants. Confusion over terminology was shown with 408/782 (52.2) allowing a rider to continue riding during with a bell ringer, but when bell ringer is replaced with concussion only 83/782 (10.6) would allow a rider to continue. We found that while participants have a general understanding about concussions and the signs and symptoms they are still unclear on how to manage the concussions. Therefore it is suggested that an educational intervention that is aimed at the sport of motocross be created that places an emphasis on situations and management. It could include where to find the latest information regarding concussions for riders to stay informed.